ELPT: Early Land Plants Today

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Agenda



From ELPT to EOL (last updated 1 March, 2009)


Synopsis of meeting

Day 1, Tuesday, May 26.

  • Introductions

  • Individual/group brief presentations

  • Encyclopedia of Life

Day 2. Wednesday, May 27.

  • Targeted taxonomic groups [break-a-way groups]

Day 3. Thursday, May 28.

  • Targeted taxonomic groups - continued [break-a-way groups]

  • Targeted taxonomic groups – brief reporting [full participation]

  • Preliminary world liverwort checklist [full participation]

Day 4. Friday, May 29.

  • Preliminary world liverwort checklist - continued [full participation]

  • General Geography [full participation]

  • Geography [break-a-way groups]

  • Recap, review, regroup [full participation]


Detailed agenda


Day 1. Tuesday, May 26

Chair & convener: von Konrat

9.00am start

Introductions

Allotted time: 45 minutes

  • Encyclopedia of Life (EoL) to open with a few business matters

  • Brief welcome by von Konrat and overview of the four days

Part One: From molecules to monographs [full participation]

Allotted time: two-three hours

  • 15-30 minute presentations by contributing participants.

  • Overview of various broad-level projects

Confirmed contributors (as at March 1): Lars Söderström, Matt von Konrat & Anders Hagborg; Blanka Shaw (Duke University); Bernard Goffinet (University of Connecticut); David Long & Laura Forrest (RBG, Edinburgh)

BREAK (10-15 minutes)

Barbara Crandall-Stotler (Southern Illinois University); Xiaolan He-Nygrèn (University of Helsinki); Endymion Dante Cooper (Royal Botanic Gardens); Nadya Konstantinova (Polar-Alpine Botanical Garden); Li Zhang (The University of Hong Kong, China)

Lunch


Part Two: Encyclopedia of Life [full participation]

Allotted time: three hours

  • Presentations by Encyclopedia of Life.

- Biological Heritage Library (ca. 1.5 hours)

- Species Pages (ca. 1.5 hours)

- Phylogenetic visualization software (ca. 1.5 hours)

BREAK (10-15 minutes)

  • Encyclopedia of Life continued

  • Briefing and introduction for following day’s session.

Day closes ca. 5 to 5.30pm



Day 2. Wednesday, May 27

9.00am start


Part Three: Taxonomic break-a-way groups [see separate document for details]

Co-Chairs & conveners: Söderström & von Konrat

Allotted time: Approx. One day and a half


15-30 minutes introduction & discussion of desired goals & outcomes


Summary objectives & goals for all taxonomic groups (N.B., Objectives that are SPECIFIC to each taxonomic group are appended separately).

  1. Assess higher taxonomy, accepted genera, and alternative schemes.

  2. List of accepted binomials (for manageable groups only).

  3. Idenitify species complexes and taxa of contention.

  4. Develop strategy to reach primary ELPT goals (incl. soliciting individuals present at meeting or not to help lead and coordinate effort).

  5. List of potential content that could be contributed to EOL (nomenclature, geographical distribution, images, Virtual Curator designate, etc.).

  6. Identification of problems and pitfalls and identify problem areas in need of further research.




Day 3. Thursday, May 28

9.00am start

Co-Chairs & conveners: Söderström & von Konrat


Part Three: Taxonomic specialists break-a-way groups (continued)


BREAK (10-15 minutes)


Part Three: Taxonomic specialists – full participation.

Co-Chairs & conveners: Söderström & von Konrat

Allotted time: One hour and a half.

Brief reporting to include at least some of the following:

  • List of content that could be contributed to EOL (nomenclature, geographical distribution, images, Virtual Curator designate, etc.).
  • Consensus on higher taxonomy, accepted genera, and alternative schemes.
  • List of accepted binomials for manageable groups.
  • Larger, less manageable groups: Strategy to reach our goals.
  • Identification of problems and pitfalls, in general, to share with others in an attempt to resolve.


Lunch


Part Four: Towards a working list of liverworts [see separate document for details]


Co-Chairs & conveners: Söderström, von Konrat & Hagborg

Allotted time: Approximately three-quarters of a day to one day.


Objectives

  • Discuss the baseline information that we are after.

  • Binomial, authority, original publication, which taxonomy to follow?

  • Data to use – literature only? 

  • Extent of data to include (type information etc.)

  • Include infraspecific taxa or not

  • Publication format .

  • ELPT Recommendations: Follow largely MO world moss checklist style. Include accepted name (to infraspecific), authority, original citation?, critical annotations, e.g., controversial generic placement. Exclude synonyms, type data, detailed annotations.

  • Work systematically through a binomial list of “accepted” names. [prior to meeting, agreeing on accepted genera, build in updates from taxonomy break-away groups, after meeting]

  • Rapidly work through those genera where there is no controversy.

  • Return to binomials, genera and families of controversy N.B.: Comment: Rather than trying to wedge a genus into a controversial or pre-mature placement – need a system whereby we agree on how to proceed. Perhaps with annotation identifying species is fine, placement of genus problem.

  • Identify controversy or conflict. Accept traditional placement with note of alternative scheme if there is no corroborating evidence.

  • Identify next course of action – and if necessary solicit interest to take responsibility.


Day closes ca. 5 to 5.30pm



Day 4. Friday, May 29

9.00am start


Part Four: Towards a working list of liverworts – continued


10.30 break


Part Five: General Geography [full participation]

Chair & convener: Söderström

Allotted time: Two hours


Summary objectives & goals

  • Overview and database presented by Söderström.

  • Units & Standards:

  • What are the optimal units to use (result vs. effort balance)

  • Size of units eg 40-50,000KM2

  • Modification of TDWG units

  • Problems and pitfalls of geopolotical points

  • Africa and Europe as examples

  • Protocol for reviewing geographical based lists

  • Goal: Units that are practical to use, easy to find, not too large, not too many


LUNCH


Part Three: Geography [break-a-way groups]


Summary objectives & goals

  • Primary Goal: Begin strategy for developing regional checklists & Develop strategy to reach primary ELPT goals

  • Regions of interest: SE Asia; China, Himalaya; Oceania; South America/Neotropical America/Brazil; Tristan da Cuhna

BREAK (10-15 minutes)

Part Five: Review, recap, regroup


Program closes ca. 5 to 5.30pm



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  • 1 March ELPT to EOL AGENDA discussion document.doc - on Mar 1, 2009 4:08 PM by Matt Von Konrat (version 1)
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